How to Stay Sane when Airline Passengers are Insane: A Guide for Flight Attendants
May is Mental Health Awareness Month so I decided to write this blog post because mental health is so important. Not only is it so important but it is also very hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle mentally and physically while being a flight attendant. From the frequent flyers to the anxious flier and everything in between we are constantly dealing with everyone’s emotions. Angry, sad, happy, and scared, are all emotions in passengers that we have to deal with as the cabin crew. Here are my top tips on how to stay sane when passengers are insane. (Please note, I am not a doctor and can’t diagnose or cure whatever you are dealing with mentally. I am personally just sharing tips that have helped me).
How to stay sane when passengers are insane:
Seek Help or Someone Professional to Talk to
My first advice is to seek professional help, especially if you are truly feeling your mental health is suffering. However, I do believe that having someone professional to talk to can be helpful even when you don’t feel like you are drowning. Even on your best days continuously seeing a therapist or having someone to talk to is very important for your overall health. I would suggest going through your health insurance to a therapist that is in your network. Plus, a lot of therapists these days offer virtual visits which is great for us being on the go all the time!
Invest in Deep Breathing Techniques
Do Something Active Everyday Even if You are Working
Eat healthy and Stay Away from Airplane Food
Food is nutrition and eating healthy is a great way to receive the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. When you are traveling, it is so easy to gravitate towards fast food and even airplane food options. These foods aren’t always the healthiest and can cause inflammation ultimately having an effect on stress in your body. This is obviously easier said than done. I have had my fair share of in-flight meals and fast food items. My biggest suggestion as a flight attendant or frequent flyer is to pack your own lunch box. It doesn’t have to be extremely big and packed with every meal but it should definitely have enough for your flights until you get to your layover. Considering airports are full of fast food it is best to have your meals already planned out for you.
Limit Screen Time
I am sure this isn’t the first time you have heard this but social media is a slippery slope. As someone who is a travel blogger/content creator in my spare time from flying, I have to learn how to limit myself and take much-needed breaks. I would suggest reading instead of continuously being on your phone during long airport sit times. You could even pick up a hobby or learn a new language.. anything but social media or aimlessly scrolling on your phone.
Listen to a Podcast when on a Layover/Overnight Stay (whatever you call it)
Prioritize Sleep
This may sound silly because sometimes you don’t even have enough hours in a destination to get an 8+ hour night’s sleep but it is still important to always prioritize it. Instead of staying up late watching TV or going out on the town, get yourself the 8+ hours of sleep that your body needs especially after a long flying day. If airport sit times are even long enough take a nap during that time too. Sleep is so important for your body and your mental health. When you do go to bed, I would also suggest having a white noise machine (I have one on my phone), so that you can get a deep sleep without being woken up by other hotel guests.
Stay in Touch with Family and Friends
It’s hard being away from your friends and family so it is important to remember to keep in touch with them. Whether that be giving them a quick phone call to check in or carving out a lunch date for when you get back. With how crazy your schedule is as a flight attendant or airline crew, letting your friends or family know how your schedule works in advance may help with their flexibility as well. Having a support system from your friends and family can really help you decompress from a long and enduring day(s) in the skies.
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